In a post-tsunami teardown, iSuppli identifies vulnerabilities in Apple's supply chain

Natori City in northeastern Japan. Photo: REUTERS/KYODO

Many analysts have tried to gauge the effect of Japan's troubles on Apple's (AAPL) supply-constrained iPad 2, but the report issued Thursday afternoon by iSuppli's Andrew Rassweiler is the most thorough we've seen. He identifies five key components:

• NAND flash memory from Toshiba Corp.
• DRAM (dynamic random access memory) from Elpida Memory Inc.
• An electronic compass from AKM Semiconductor
• The touch screen overlay glass likely from Asahi Glass Co.
• The system battery from Apple Japan Inc.

Apple can get NAND and DRAM from other sources, notably Samsung and Micron. The battery, compass and glass are not so easily replaced, says Rassweiler.

More